Recently I travelled to the Philippines for Liberal International’s 57th Annual Congress. The Congress, graciously hosted this year by the Liberal Party of the Philippines and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, provided an opportunity for liberals from all over the world to come together and debate and discuss issues affecting millions of people around the globe.
Every Congress takes on a different theme, and this year the debate and speeches revolved around the idea of “Human Rights and Trade.” With a global economy that is more integrated than ever, we have no doubt witnessed the positive effects of globalization, including the opportunity for poorer nations, economies and individuals to become active players in the global economy. At the same time though, this integrated market place has also resulted in millions of people being forced to work for low wages and in poor working conditions.
I feel that this issue really comes down to finding a balance, a balance between free trade and human rights. There is no doubt a free market economy can help create jobs and pull people out of poverty, but it must be done in a way that ensures those jobs are safe, and that workers are receiving fair wages.
That is why I was proud to support the main resolution of the 57th Congress, which urged all countries to dismantle all trade barriers for products industries and services. Liberal International members agreed that “integrating the poorest countries into international trade is the best way to create growth, alleviate poverty and foster a society that guarantees human rights.” I am a firm believer that a free and open market place should be a fundamental value for any liberal, and this resolution simply reiterates why. “A system of trade based on market competition generally benefits all while protectionism only favours certain groups”
I was also quite impressed with this particular resolution in that it did not ignore the potential downsides that can emerge from a free market system. Instead of turning a blind eye to these issues the Congress addressed them head on, “emphasizing the need to forge a liberal trade regime that supports both economic progress and sustainable development on a worldwide scale.” It is this kind of forward thinking and willingness to address the issues at hand that makes me proud to be a liberal and Treasurer of Liberal International. If this Congress was any indication of what is to come, I’m very confident Liberal International will continue to represent the values that I and millions of other liberals hold extremely well.